Literature Reviews

Reviewed research papers, articles, and publications relevant to digital accessibility.

• Combining Haptic and Braille Technologies: Design Issues and Pilot Study

  Christophe Ramstein (1996) — Proceedings of the Second Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '96)

  This paper presents the Pantobraille, a novel device that combines a single braille cell with a pantograph-based force feedback device to allow blind users to navigate and read content on graphical user interfaces. Developed as part of the CITI PC-Ac…

  • braille
  • haptic technology
  • force feedback
  • braille display
  • tactile accessibility
  • assistive technology
  • non-visual interaction
  • graphical user interface accessibility

• A Generic Direct-Manipulation 3D-Auditory Environment for Hierarchical Navigation in Non-Visual Interaction

  Anthony Savidis, Constantine Stephanidis, Andreas Korte, Kai Crispien, Klaus Fellbaum (1996) — Proceedings of the Second Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '96)

  This paper presents a generic, reusable 3D-auditory environment designed to support hierarchical navigation in non-visual user interfaces. The authors address a significant gap in assistive technology development: while 3D audio had been used in a fe…

  • non-visual interaction
  • auditory interface
  • 3D audio
  • spatial audio
  • gesture recognition
  • voice input
  • assistive technology
  • toolkit design
  • hierarchical navigation

• Improving the Usability of Speech-Based Interfaces for Blind Users

  Ian J. Pitt, Alistair D. N. Edwards (1996) — Proceedings of the Second Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '96)

  This paper from the University of York examines the usability problems inherent in speech-based interfaces for blind computer users and presents a study comparing how blind and sighted subjects process information delivered through synthetic speech. …

  • blindness and low vision
  • screen reader
  • speech synthesis
  • usability
  • speech dialogue design
  • text-to-speech
  • auditory interface
  • prosody
  • cognitive load

• A Study of Input Device Manipulation Difficulties

  Shari Trewin (1996) — Proceedings of the Second Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '96)

  This paper from the University of Edinburgh describes a pilot study designed to gather detailed, quantified data about physical input errors made by people with motor disabilities when using standard keyboards and mice. The author identifies a signif…

  • motor disability
  • keyboard accessibility
  • mouse accessibility
  • input errors
  • performance errors
  • input logging
  • assistive technology
  • user research
  • accessibility testing
  • personalization

• Emacspeak — Direct Speech Access

  T. V. Raman (1996) — Proceedings of the Second Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '96)

  This paper by T. V. Raman (then at Adobe Systems, developed while at Digital Equipment Corporation's Cambridge Research Lab) presents Emacspeak, a speech output subsystem for Emacs that provides what the author terms "direct speech access" to UNIX wo…

  • screen reader
  • speech output
  • blindness and low vision
  • UNIX accessibility
  • text-to-speech
  • Emacs
  • Linux accessibility
  • open source
  • software accessibility

• The Keybowl: An Ergonomically Designed Document Processing Device

  Peter J. McAlindon, Kay M. Stanney (1996) — Proceedings of the Second Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '96)

  This paper from the University of Central Florida presents the Keybowl, a novel alphanumeric input device designed as an ergonomic alternative to the standard QWERTY keyboard for users with upper extremity disabilities and for preventing carpal tunne…

  • ergonomics
  • alternative input
  • keyboard design
  • carpal tunnel syndrome
  • repetitive strain injury
  • motor disability
  • chording keyboard
  • assistive technology

• "Composability": Widening Participation in Music Making for People with Disabilities via Music Software and Controller Solutions

  Tim Anderson, Clare Smith (1996) — Proceedings of the Second Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '96)

  This paper from the Drake Music Project and University of York discusses enabling visually impaired and physically disabled people to compose and perform music through adapted software and controller solutions. The Drake Music Project (DMP), a UK cha…

  • music accessibility
  • creative arts
  • MIDI
  • adaptive technology
  • physical disability
  • visual impairment
  • education
  • switch access
  • inclusive design

• Development of Dialogue Systems for a Mobility Aid for Blind People: Initial Design and Usability Testing

  Thomas Strothotte, Steffi Fritz, Rainer Michel, Andreas Raab, Helen Petrie, Valerie Johnson, Lars Reichert, Axel Schalt (1996) — Proceedings of the Second Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '96)

  This paper presents the MoBIC Travel Aid (MoTA), an EU-funded system designed to increase independent mobility for blind and elderly travellers by combining Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with the Global Positioning System (GPS). The system has…

  • blindness and low vision
  • navigation
  • GPS
  • GIS
  • orientation and mobility
  • wayfinding
  • route planning
  • electronic travel aid
  • user-centered design

• Enhancing Scanning Input with Non-Speech Sounds

  Stephen A. Brewster, Veli-Pekka Raty, Atte Kortekangas (1996) — Proceedings of the Second Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '96)

  This paper proposes adding structured non-speech sounds (earcons) to scanning input systems used by people with severe motor disabilities who can only operate a single switch. Scanning input works by sequentially highlighting items in a grid; the use…

  • scanning input
  • earcons
  • sonification
  • auditory display
  • switch access
  • augmentative and alternative communication
  • multimodal interaction
  • motor disability

• Interactive Tactile Display System: A Support System for the Visually Disabled to Recognize 3D Objects

  Yoshihiro Kawai, Fumiaki Tomita (1996) — Proceedings of the Second Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '96)

  This paper from the Electrotechnical Laboratory in Tsukuba, Japan describes an interactive tactile display system that combines stereo computer vision with a pin-based tactile display and voice synthesis to help blind users recognize three-dimensiona…

  • blindness and low vision
  • tactile display
  • stereo vision
  • computer vision
  • 3D object recognition
  • haptic technology
  • assistive technology
  • refreshable display